Dozens of students remain missing following attack on secondary school in northeastern Nigeria
More than 30 students remain unaccounted for following an attack on a secondary school in the northeastern Nigerian town of Lassa, in Borno State. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of educational institutions in a region long affected by insurgent violence.
A region under persistent threat
Lassa lies in an area of Borno State that has experienced repeated attacks targeting schools and civilian populations over more than a decade. The northeast has been at the centre of an insurgency that has displaced millions and disrupted access to education, particularly for girls and young women.
Attacks on schools in the region have taken various forms, from abductions of students to the destruction of facilities and the killing of teachers. Such incidents have frequently drawn condemnation from national authorities, international bodies, and humanitarian organisations, who warn that the targeting of educational institutions undermines long-term recovery and development.
Search and response efforts
The fate of the missing students has prompted search efforts, with calls for any information that could help trace those still unaccounted for. In previous incidents of this kind in Nigeria, the government has deployed military and civilian resources to search for abducted students and negotiate their release. International partners, including United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations, have also supported response efforts through advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and calls for the protection of children’s rights.
Broader implications for education
The attack underscores the continuing vulnerability of schools in conflict-affected parts of Nigeria. Education sector monitors have repeatedly warned that insecurity discourages attendance, forces school closures, and deepens inequalities, particularly in rural communities already facing limited access to learning opportunities.
Human rights organisations continue to urge the authorities to strengthen protections around schools, prosecute those responsible for attacks on educational facilities, and ensure that children can learn in safety. The fate of the missing students in Lassa is expected to remain a focus of national attention in the coming days.
Source: Al Jazeera — read the original report.
